19 March 2024
cat with pink flowers

14 flowers and plants that are safe to have around cats

Looking to brighten up the home with a beautiful bouquet for yourself or a loved one?

Have a garden that could do with some glorious blooms, but you’re concerned about the cat?

Excellent! You’ve come to the right place!


To help you, I’ve compiled this list of 14 favourite plants and flowers that are safe to have around cats.

1. Buddleja

Buddleia and a bee
Photo by Jan Meeus on Unsplash

Aka Buddleia / Buddlea / Butterfly Bush

Not only will you have a wide variety of colours to choose from, but they often have a delicious honey scent.

Plus, they are favoured by butterflies, bees and thankfully safe to have around our cats!

2. Campanula

Campanula is fine to grow around felines

Aka Canterbury Bell / Bellflower.

These summer perennials grow in a variety of colours and also attract our bee friends.

They look super growing tall in the garden, and can be cut to make a really special bouquet for friends, family… or even yourself.

3. Coreopsis

tickseed is good to grow in the uk in gardens with cats
Image by Tilly ©purrplex.com

Aka Tickseed / Sunfire.

Take it from me, these perennials are a total delight to have growing in the garden!

I would recommend dead-heading once individual buds have finished flowering to encourage more flowers to grow.

And the bees love them to boot!

4. Freesia

yellow cut freesia that are safe for cats
Image by 정순 손 from Pixabay

Ah, the lovely Freesia!

Being easy to come by, and with a superb range of colours, these make for a great bouquet on their own.
No need to over complicate things!

5. Hibiscus

Purple hibiscus growing outside
Image by Thanasis Papazacharias from Pixabay

Aka Rose Mallow / Rose of Sharon

If you happen to be in a tropical environment, these are great for growing outdoors.
In a UK climate however (despite our heatwave in August 2020), these are best grown indoors in pots.

Not only are they are renowned for attracting butterflies and bees, but also—location dependent of course—hummingbirds!

6. Hollyhock

Pink hollyhock growing in garden
Image by Jongjoon Moon from Pixabay

Aka Alcea

These self-sowing beauties are traditionally an old cottage garden favourite, often found in churchyards… and my mum’s garden.

A hot favourite with the bumblebee, they come in many colours and are a joyful addition to gardens and bouquets alike.

7. Gerbera daisy

gerbera daisy in pink
Image by liggraphy from Pixabay

These fabulous daisy-like flowers come in a plethora of bright colours.
Although they don’t have a strong scent, they are so wonderfully cheerful and bound to bring a smile to anyone’s day.

8. Nasturtium

yellow edible nasturtium
Image by Tilly ©purrplex.com

Firstly, I’m sure you’ll be over the moon to hear that the Nasturtium can be found in a good range of lovely warm colours.

Secondly, let me tell you about its versatility: It’s suitable for borders and hanging baskets, is an annual, and…

Finally… did I mention that not only is it not poisonous for cats, but it is also totally edible.
Yep… this one pictured is destined for my salad!

9. Pansies

purple pansies
Image by Artur Strecker from Pixabay

These cheerful little fellas work perfectly in pots, baskets and small bouquets. So many varieties to choose from!

10. Petunia

pink petunias
Image by manseok Kim from Pixabay

Petunias are a pretty popular bedding and hanging basket plant that flower throughout the summer, until the first significant frosts.

Not only can you find a super variety of colours with either single or double blooms, but they also have different fragrances and styles. Lovely little show-offs!

11. Roses

peach coloured rose that is safe for a cat

If you’re looking for a scented flower that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, look no further.
Seriously, can you name a soul who doesn’t love a rose?! Answers on a postcard… or in the comments below.

The only thing one needs to watch out for are the thorns, of course.

Other than that, you’ll be happy to hear that pusscat is safe to roam around the roses.

12. Sunflowers

cat safely sniffing a yellow sunflower
Image by scarlett1991 from Pixabay

As the sunflower is such a popular plant, I’ve taken it upon myself to write a whole separate blog post on how these are just fine and dandy to have, if you keep (or are kept by) cats.

You’ll find this sterling blog post as well as some of my handpicked favourite sunflower facts right here.

13. Valerian

White valerian plant has similar effect on cats as catmint.
Image by jhenning from Pixabay

Aka Garden Heliotrope

Valerian is a beautiful lacy addition to any bouquet of flowers that is safe to have around our feline friends.
It has wonderfully scented pink or white flowers.

Also worth noting – valerian root can have a similar effect to that of catmint/catnip.
It is also hugely popular with insects, so it must be doing something right!

14. Zinnia

colourful zinnia flowers. safe to grow around cats
Image by utroja0 from Pixabay

Last but not least is Zinnia. You’ll find a wonderful array of colours to choose from that will brighten up any bunch of flowers.

Zinnia can be grown from seed and has the bonus of being bee, butterfly and cat friendly!

Over to you!

I’d absolutely love to know which are your favourites. And, are there any others that you’d like to see on the list?

Don’t forget to share your kitty pics and vids with us and get commenting below! x
@purrplexcity #purrplexcity

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